Fixture to mount a device

ABSTRACT

A screw is used as part of a securing mechanism with a fixture, particularly with a swiveling arm, for a support system to secure, in particular, a medical or salon-technical device, with a holding part and a mounting part mounted on the holding part. 
     The screw is screwed into the holding part or the mounting part, wherein the screw head projects into a groove of a bushing of the other part, i.e., of the mounting part or the holding part, and wherein the screw head can move freely in the groove when there is a relative rotation between the holding part and the mounting part, and wherein the groove is bordered by an upper surface. 
     If there is a failure in the connection between the holding part and the mounting part, for example, if the securing ring fails, the surface impacts the screw head. In this manner, the holding part is held on the mounting part (FIG.  1 ).

The object of the application is based on a fixture, in particular, witha swiveling arm for a support system to mount a medical orsalon-technical device.

A multitude of tripod stands, ceiling mounts, and wall systems are wellknown to which medical devices, for example, supply stations orsalon-technical devices, e.g., drying hoods or infrared radiationdevices, are mounted. In many cases, a swiveling arm is used to swivelthe device to a specific location. Essentially, this type of devicecomprises a holding part and a mounting part mounted on the holdingpart. The holding part is connected to a stationary support, inparticular, a tripod stand leg of a ceiling mount or a wall mount. Themounting part is rotatably connected to the holding part, which holdsthe device. The device places a load on the mounting part and thereforethe holding part.

This may result in the connection between the holding part and themounting part becoming damaged due to long-term use, meaning that theholding part comes loose from the mounting part. In order to prevent anaccident or damage to the device in such a case, it is typical toprovide a securing mechanism to secure the mounting part with respect tothe holding part.

It is known from European Patent No. EP 1 283 969 that the securingmechanism has a screw with a screw head, and the screw extends into theholding part to support the securing mechanism.

The known fixture has the disadvantage in that the securing mechanismincreases friction of the fixture if the holding part is rotatedrelative to the mounting part.

Thus, the object of the present invention is to provide a solution forthis disadvantage.

Subsequently, the screw is screwed into the holding part or the mountingpart. The screw head projects into a groove of a bushing of the otherpart, that is, of the mounting part or the holding part. In thisprocess, the screw head can move freely in the groove with a relativerotation between the holding part and the mounting part. The groove isbordered by an upper surface against which the screw head impacts if theconnection between the holding part and the mounting part fails.

The suggested fixture has the advantage that the securing mechanism doesnot disturb the movements of the fixture if there is a functionalconnection, because the screw head can move back and forth freely in thegroove. The holding part is not held by the screw head at the mountingpart until there is a failure in the connection, when the holding partlowers with respect to the mounting part. Thus, when the holding part isrotated relative to the mounting part, the fixture becomes difficult tomove, because the screw head supports the device, and the device placesa load on the screw head via the upper surface of the groove. Thesurface moves with a great amount of friction via the screw head. Inthis process, the thread of the screw is not stressed to any greatextent. The person using the fixture notices the connectionfailure/joint failure due to the fixture's lack of ease in movement anddue to the visible gap, which is caused by the resulting travel movementbetween the holding part and the mounting part.

The term screw should be understood within the scope of its technicalequivalents. A bolt, a pin, a rivet, or other miscellaneous retainingelements will also fulfill the function of a screw with thread even ifone of such retaining elements does not have a thread. An end of theretaining element that projects outwards corresponds to the screw head.An MLF screw is particularly suitable.

The screw can be mounted via a slot bordering the groove, whereby thescrew can be screwed into an inner thread or a retaining element ispartially inserted into a drilled hole.

If there is a securing ring in a holder of the holding part, upon whichthe bushing of the mounting part is supported, then the bushing slippingdownwards after the securing ring fails can be held by the screw head.

If the screw head has a wedge-shaped edge, then the screw head is wedgedon the surface of the groove when the securing mechanism is used. It canthen be concluded that a particularly great amount of difficulty inmoving the fixture means there is damage to the fixture.

The invention is described in detail below with reference to Figuresthat show two exemplary embodiments. The following is shown:

FIG. 1, in a vertical section, shows a vertically aligned holding part,upon which a mounting part having a horizontal arm is supported via asecuring ring, and wherein a screw head of a screw, screwed into theholding part, can be moved in a groove cut into the mounting part whenthe arm is swiveled.

FIG. 2, in a vertical section, shows the object of FIG. 1, however, witha failed securing ring, a piece on the holding part with the mountingpart slipping downwards together with the arm, and with a screw headimpacting the upper, horizontally aligned surface of the groove, withsaid head being part of a securing mechanism.

FIG. 3, in a vertical section, shows another mounting part on anotherholding part, wherein a screw is also provided for securing the mountingpart on the holding part, however, the screw is screwed-in in themounting part, and the screw head projects into a groove of the holdingpart.

With a fixture 1 with a swiveling arm 2 of a support system to mount amedical device, a holding part 3 with a ceiling mount and a mountingpart 4 are rotatably connected to the holding part 3 (FIG. 1). Thedevice places a load on the mounting part 4 and thus the holding part 3.A securing mechanism 5 is used to secure the mounting part 4 on theholding part 3. The securing mechanism 5 has a screw 7 with a screw head8. The screw 7 engages with the inner thread 13 of the holding part 3and, in this manner, is screwed into the mounting part 4. The screw head8 projects into a groove 9 of a bushing 14 of the mounting part 4. Thescrew head 8 can therefore move freely in the groove 9 when the mountingpart 4 is rotated around the holding part 3. The groove 9 is bordered bya horizontally aligned surface 6. A slot 10 is used to insert the screw7.

Acting as a connection between the holding part 3 and the mounting part4, a securing ring 11 in a holder 12 of the holding part 3, upon whichthe bushing 14 of the mounting part 4 and therefore the mounting part 4together with the arm 2 are supported, is provided.

If the securing ring 11 fails after the fixture 1 has been used for along period of time, and it falls out (FIG. 2), then the mounting partalong with the arm 2 slips downwards a few millimeters along the holdingpart 3. However, this does not result in the mounting part 4 comingloose from the holding part 3, because the screw 7, as a part of thesecuring mechanism 5, prevents this. Thus, the surface 6 impacts thescrew head 8 during this slippage downwards. Said screw head has aline-shaped, wedge-type tapered edge 15, which digs into the surface 6or places itself between the surface 6 and the holding part 3. Thisresults in difficulty of movement when the arm is rotated whereby theoccurred damage is noticed.

The art is similar in the second embodiment example (FIG. 3). Theholding part 3 and the mounting part 4, however, connect two arms 2,which are linked together with a joint, with each arm swiveling in ahorizontal plane. Contrary to the first embodiment example, the screw 7is screwed into the mounting part 4, and the screw head 8 can be movedin a groove 9 of the holding part 3. Should the connection between theholding part 3 and the mounting part 4 become loose, the screw 7 securesthe fixture 1 precisely as described in the first embodiment example.

-   1 Fixture-   2 Arm-   3 Holding part-   4 Mounting part-   5 Securing mechanism-   6 Surface-   7 Screw-   8 Screw head-   9 Groove-   10 Slot-   11 Securing ring-   12 Holder-   13 Inner thread-   14 Bushing-   15 Edge

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood asbeing strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead,unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean boththe recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding thatvalue. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean“about 40 mm”.

All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the Invention are, inrelevant part, incorporated herein by reference; the citation of anydocument is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior artwith respect to the present invention. To the extent that any meaning ordefinition of a term in this written document conflicts with any meaningor definition of the term in a document incorporated by reference, themeaning or definition assigned to the term in this written documentshall govern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have beenillustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in theart that various other changes and modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is thereforeintended to cover in the appended claims all such changes andmodifications that are within the scope of this invention.

1. A fixture, particularly with a swiveling arm, for a support system tosecure, in particular, a medical or salon-technical device, with aholding part and a mounting part mounted on the holding part, whereinthe holding part is connected to a stationary support, in particular, aceiling mount or a wall mount, the mounting part is rotatably connectedto the holding part, the device places a load on the mounting part andtherefore the holding part, a securing mechanism is provided to securethe mounting part with respect to the holding part, the securingmechanism has a screw with a screw head, and the screw extends into theholding part, wherein the screw is screwed into the holding part or themounting part, and wherein the screw head projects into a groove of abushing of the other part, i.e., of the mounting part or of the holdingpart, and wherein the screw head can move freely in the groove whenthere is a relative rotation between the holding part and the mountingpart, and wherein the groove is bordered by an upper surface.
 2. Fixtureas recited in claim 1, wherein a securing ring is provided in a holderof the holding part upon which the bushing of the mounting part issupported.
 3. Fixture as recited in claim 1, wherein the screw head hasa wedge-shaped edge.
 4. Fixture as recited in claim 1, wherein a slotbordering the groove is provided for inserting the screw into an innerthread and for tightening.